Andre Ellington Now Punt Returner?

[NJCardFan]

http://cardswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/23/andre-ellington-now-lead-kick-punt-returner-for-cardinals/

Well, since JJ Nelson crapped the bed, next man up.

 

[Brak]

Hell, why not? Can't be any worse than the last half-dozen or so guys they've trotted out there, including PP, whose KR skills went straight to the toilet after that amazing rookie season. I'm really, really concerned about how pathetic the special teams are (and have been), at some point, it's gonna cost a game. Perhaps a very big game.

 

[GoldGloveschmidt]

He's dangerous in space. Good way to get the ball his hands more since he's buried behind DJ and CJ.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Didn't they already have him returning kicks in the 1st preseason game?

 

[SeattleCard]

Watched him a practice today ... Caught every punt well!

 

[Shaggy]

Hope this sticks. I think he would be a great PR. Just hope he doesn't get hurt doing it.

 

[Garthshort]

Couple of things:
1. As the 3rd RB, this is a chance to get AE more touches.
2. The big question seems to be his ability to catch punts. If Nelson is on the team as the fifth WR, I doubt that he'd be active on game days, since we have four pretty good TE's, and will probably only have seven or eight pass catchers active. And if Nelson is inactive, is Smokey our only other PR? Coming off a concussion, I wouldn't think we would want to expose him.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Didn't they already have him returning kicks in the 1st preseason game?

I think he meant to say he is now the Lead Punt Returner.

 

[Buckybird]

I like the move personally given the chicken poo players we've jotted out there lately, including PP. The biggest question is, will Dre run with wild abandon & fearlessness for the season given he will likely be out of AZ next season & unlike he has many times before when lined up in the backfield.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I like the move personally given the chicken poo players we've jotted out there lately, including PP. The biggest question is, will Dre run with wild abandon & fearlessness for the season given he will likely be out of AZ next season & unlike he has many times before when lined up in the backfield.

So wait a second...

You think someone who will become a Free Agent next year might just mail it in? That doesn't make sense. Your Free Agent year is basically your job interview. Why wouldn't you give it your all to showcase what you have?

 

[Buckybird]

So wait a second...

You think someone who will become a Free Agent next year might just mail it in? That doesn't make sense. Your Free Agent year is basically your job interview. Why wouldn't you give it your all to showcase what you have?

Some do some don't! They sometimes try to stay away from injury & others go balls out. IMO it happens more than you think. I don't think he will but given his injury history it's possible. You disagree?

 

[jbeecham]

Being a free agent next year can work both ways... having a great year will earn you more money, but getting injured again (when you already have an injury plagued past) would really hurt his next contract. KR/PR increases the likelihood of injuries for him because it can lead to lots of big hits for a guy who shys away from contact. Plus, Tyrann's 1st ACL injury was on a punt return so there's always a chance to injure a knee, turf toe, etc.

I hope it works out well for him & us... it is another way to get the ball in his hands because he probably isn't going to get many touches each week (I'll be surprised if he gets more than 5/game on offense).

 

[Mitch]

Being a free agent next year can work both ways... having a great year will earn you more money, but getting injured again (when you already have an injury plagued past) would really hurt his next contract. KR/PR increases the likelihood of injuries for him because it can lead to lots of big hits for a guy who shys away from contact. Plus, Tyrann's 1st ACL injury was on a punt return so there's always a chance to injure a knee, turf toe, etc.

I hope it works out well for him & us... it is another way to get the ball in his hands because he probably isn't going to get many touches each week (I'll be surprised if he gets more than 5/game on offense).

I do not think Ellington is the answer as the punt returner, for several of the reasons and questions Bucky posed. It's amazing to me that the coaches keep trying players who are "shy" about contact in that role.

Too bad too that the Cardinals have the most talented and naturally gifted punt returner on the planet earth (Pat P.)---and yet because of injury fear, he will only be used in that role sparingly, if at all. Deion Sanders was never shy about it. But that's why he lived up to the nickname "Primetime."

 

[cardncubfan]

Some do some don't! They sometimes try to stay away from injury & others go balls out. IMO it happens more than you think. I don't think he will but given his injury history it's possible. You disagree?

Being a free agent next year can work both ways... having a great year will earn you more money, but getting injured again (when you already have an injury plagued past) would really hurt his next contract. KR/PR increases the likelihood of injuries for him because it can lead to lots of big hits for a guy who shys away from contact. Plus, Tyrann's 1st ACL injury was on a punt return so there's always a chance to injure a knee, turf toe, etc.

I hope it works out well for him & us... it is another way to get the ball in his hands because he probably isn't going to get many touches each week (I'll be surprised if he gets more than 5/game on offense).

One of you two needs to change their avatar. Very confusing.

 

[eastcoastSUN]

Is LSH still available?

 

[Buckybird]

One of you two needs to change their avatar. Very confusing.

Lol

I've been confused a few times myself seeing his. Hey I'm probably older so I've got seniority

 

[cardncubfan]

Lol

I've been confused a few times myself seeing his. Hey I'm probably older so I've got seniority

You are the elder of the two.

 

[football karma]

as the worrier:

one bad punt catch can easily cost the team a game

This isnt like a kickoff where if you botch the catch you fall on it


i know AE has good hands, but never having done it during an NFL game makes me nervous

 

[BillsCarnage]

I didn't see the SD game, but did anyone see how Jaxon Shipley did on returns? The Raiders game he had some good returns and if he's going to make the team I can see him in the returner role.

 

[Mitch]

I didn't see the SD game, but did anyone see how Jaxon Shipley did on returns? The Raiders game he had some good returns and if he's going to make the team I can see him in the returner role.

Ellington took all of the kickoff and punt returns, except Chris Hubert had one punt return for 7 yards. I really thought the Cardinals would have tried Shipley on punt returns, but he's not getting any chances there.

 

[NJCardFan]

as the worrier:

one bad punt catch can easily cost the team a game

This isnt like a kickoff where if you botch the catch you fall on it


i know AE has good hands, but never having done it during an NFL game makes me nervous

In the NFC Championship game, the Cards, after falling behind 17-0, started to gain a little momentum. They were about to get the ball back after a huge 3rd down stop but PP failed to control the punt and the Panthers got the ball back and the Panthers subsequently scored. Lord knows how that game would have gone had we scored to close the gap to 17-14.

 

[Buckybird]

I really thought the Cardinals would have tried Shipley on punt returns, but he's not getting any chances there.

Which tells me he won't make the roster & im sure you & most others think as well. Mitch I have no idea why the staff isn't giving him a shot at PR duties because he was pretty darn good at it in Austin. Makes zero sense to me given our terrible returns for years now.

 

[jbeecham]

Avatar Changed... hopefully no one else has this one...

 

[Garthshort]

I'm on MadCardDisease's side on Free Agents. AE must show something this year to be an attractive FA next year. Guys that can "mail it in" have a better resume than AE. Because of injuries, he has to show "that he can take a lickin and keep on tickin". JMO.

 

[dreday]

as the worrier:

one bad punt catch can easily cost the team a game

This isnt like a kickoff where if you botch the catch you fall on it


i know AE has good hands, but never having done it during an NFL game makes me nervous

I'm a worrier too but this doesn't make me nervous.